MG- S Westerlies, A-Clockwise, V Hilly - Dash

This one is the exact reverse route of the Westerly wind version, only this one is anti-clockwise of course
The start has an extra flat few miles around the ice cream farm in order to warm up before Harthill , even though the easier way, but I could go the hard way. However. this route is really aimed at tempo effort on the hills. There are several long up hill pulls ( no severe, but long - ish and therefore good for tapping out a tempo pace. The tough one is the strech from Eaton up to Mc Donald’s Portal course, as the last 100 mtrs are tough and good time to really drive on. Then a nice down hill strech, all the way to the easy climb up to Beaston from the Shady Oak pub and last tempo effort.

Tough finish into wind from Beaston, especially if wind is remotely westerly, as the sandstone ridge only provides a little cover if fully south and some cover if south westerly hence this version is anti-clockwise.
Nothing really steep, just seems relentless, as it is up nearly all the way.. however it takes in just about all of my favourite bits of lane. Really is a cracker. The lane up to McDonalds Portal golf course is surprisingly long and steep toward the end. A fast, but bumpy down hill. However that starts a nice down hill stretch , all the way to the Shady Oak pub, before the last tempo effort up to Beaston castle.
This route is aimed at a Dash & no cafe stop, although there is Tilly’s for those cold winter rides, in which case it is easy to leave out Bickerton hill and carry on to Long lane, which is a lovely smooth clean lane & only adds half a mile more ( Bickerton hill is my favourite, but not after very wet weather as it gets choked in debris.

Note, although the route is via Bickerton. I go past to Long lane in winter.

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